Underdog Raiders Take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football

The Raiders and Cowboys enter Monday night’s matchup in Las Vegas with extra rest and plenty of questions. Both teams are on losing streaks. Both have struggled to find rhythm on offense. Yet the emotional backdrop for Dallas looms largest after the sudden death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, which has shaken the organization.

The national spotlight will be bright for the Cowboys’ first regular-season trip to Las Vegas, and attention around Quick Win Casino and other local sportsbooks will be intense as well. Betting action on the Raiders and Cowboys is likely to be heavy, as it is a standalone Monday Night Football game, with the Raiders listed as 3.5-point underdogs. On the field, both franchises view this as an opportunity to reset their seasons and regain traction in the AFC and NFC playoff pictures.

Raiders Seek Reset

The Raiders enter the game as one of the few teams in the league with two or fewer losses, but they have dropped three straight. Their most recent defeat, a 10-7 loss at Denver on Thursday night, underscored recurring offensive issues. The upside for Las Vegas is rest: 11 days between games should function as a mini-bye, giving players time to recover and coaches time to reassess game plans.

Head coach Pete Carroll now faces a critical stretch in his first season in charge. The Raiders have shown high-end potential but have not been able to sustain it. Execution in key moments has slipped, and the offense has failed to support a defense that has generally kept games close. With a prime-time home game and extra prep time, there is pressure on this staff to deliver a cleaner, more consistent performance.

Offensive Struggles and Jeanty’s role

Under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the Raiders’ offense has lagged near the bottom of the league. Las Vegas ranks 30th in total offense at 272.7 yards per game. The run game has not provided balance, ranking 29th in rushing despite the investment in rookie running back Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.

Jeanty has been productive in flashes, posting 547 rushing yards, good for 17th in the NFL. However, those numbers have not translated into consistent drives or explosive plays on the ground. The Raiders have often found themselves in long-yardage situations, making the offense predictable and adding stress to the passing game. Expect Kelly to lean on Jeanty early to set a physical tone and help protect the offensive line, which is dealing with multiple injuries.

Geno Smith Under Pressure

Quarterback Geno Smith has not matched the efficiency he showed earlier in his career. Instead, he finds himself at the top of all the wrong lists. Smith has thrown 12 interceptions, second most in the league. He has taken 27 sacks, fourth most, for a loss of 186 yards, which ranks third. Among quarterbacks who have started at least nine games this season, his passer rating of 81.4 sits near the bottom.

Turnovers and negative plays have stalled drives and given opponents short fields. Some of that stems from protection issues up front. Some comes from forced throws when the Raiders fall behind the chains. For Las Vegas to upset Dallas, Smith must protect the ball, avoid back-breaking mistakes, and take the easy completions when they are available.

Brock Bowers Searches for Rhythm

Second-year tight end Brock Bowers remains one of the Raiders’ most dynamic weapons, but his usage has fluctuated. Two games ago, Bowers posted season highs with 13 targets and 12 catches in an overtime loss to the Jaguars. He looked like the focal point of the passing game, winning at all levels of the field and creating mismatches.

That momentum did not carry over to Denver. Bowers saw just three targets and finished with one catch for 31 yards. It was a surprising dip for a player who caught 112 passes as a rookie, the most among NFL tight ends last season. This year, he has only 32 receptions for 383 yards, ranking 16th and 13th among tight ends. The Raiders need to feature Bowers early and often, especially on third downs and in the red zone, to help Smith settle in.

O-line Injuries Test Depth

The offensive line sits at the center of many of the Raiders’ issues. Starting right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson is headed to injured reserve with an ankle injury and will miss at least four games, possibly the rest of the season. Fellow guard Dylan Parham also suffered an ankle injury, leaving the interior thin and unsettled. Veteran tackle Kolton Miller remains on IR as well.

Those losses force the Raiders to shuffle personnel and rely on depth options in the middle of the line. That is a tough spot against a Cowboys defense that just added All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Dallas can now generate interior pressure more consistently, which threatens to disrupt the timing of the Raiders’ quick passing game and limit running lanes for Jeanty.

Cowboys Process Grief and Changes

For the Cowboys, the week centers around how they respond to the tragic loss of Marshawn Kneeland. The bye week gave the team time to grieve without having to prepare for a game. Now, Dallas must transition back into meetings, practice, and a high-profile road contest while still processing that emotional shock.

Head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff will focus on structure and routine to help players cope. The mental challenge may match the physical one. How Dallas starts the game, both in energy and execution, will reveal a lot about where the locker room stands in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Reinforcements on Defense

Dallas used the bye and recent trade window to overhaul parts of its defense. The Cowboys acquired Quinnen Williams from the Jets to anchor the interior defensive line. They also brought in linebacker Logan Wilson, adding experience and range in the middle of the defense. Those moves aim to shore up a unit that has struggled with consistency against the run and in coverage.

The Cowboys also expect to get healthier. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who has been on the PUP list with a knee injury, is expected to make his season debut. Pairing him with Wilson could give Dallas more versatility in its second level. Cornerback Savone Revel has been activated from the non-football injury list and could see limited snaps, though he has not played in a game since Week 3 of the 2024 college season at East Carolina. The staff will likely work him in gradually.

Cowboys O-line vs. Maxx Crosby

On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys’ offensive line must solve Maxx Crosby. The Raiders reportedly received interest in Crosby at the trade deadline but chose to keep their star pass rusher. He remains the centerpiece of Las Vegas’ defense and will line up across multiple spots to find favorable matchups.

Dallas had its starting five linemen available in its last game against Arizona, but still struggled up front. Protection issues and inconsistent run blocking limited the offense. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer hinted at potential changes along the line coming out of the bye. Swing tackle Nate Thomas could see action at either left or right tackle, depending on Terence Steele’s health and performance. Keeping Crosby in check will be a priority on every snap.

First Regular-Season Trip to Vegas

Monday night marks the Cowboys’ first regular-season game in Las Vegas. Dallas played a preseason contest there last year, but this visit will feel different with playoff implications and a national audience. The matchup also features familiar faces on opposite sidelines. Schottenheimer served as offensive coordinator in Seattle from 2018 to 2020 under Pete Carroll, who now leads the Raiders.

Between the emotional stakes for Dallas, the injury challenges for Las Vegas, and the bright lights of Monday Night Football, both teams face a pivotal moment in their seasons. The Raiders seek to halt their skid and prove they can contend in the AFC. The Cowboys look to channel their grief into focus and find their footing in the NFC race.